Faster Datacentres with Tivoli

The latest version of IBM’s Tivoli Provisioning Manager (TPM - not to be confused with the other TPM, Trusted Platform Module) aims to bring datacentres into the world of "cloud computing". Hence, Big Blue is naming their version of the concept "Blue Cloud". Sounds a bit murky?

Basically, TPM version 5.1.1 is supposed to make management of servers at large-scale, globally accessible datacentres more flexible. Amongst other things, the software will help automate the discovery, configuration, deployment , and management of operating systems, patches and applications on physical, as well as virtual, servers. Some of these features are aimed at facilitating compliance efforts by providing users with a single interface for managing patches, and thus reducing errors, on various operating system platforms such as Windows, Linux, Solaris, and AIX.

TPM can also put servers into standby mode when idle to save energy and dynamically allocate resources at a datacentre so as to ensure that all resources are assigned optimally instead of having certain servers at high load while others lie idle. It also comes with a Web Replay feature which allows administrators to record all actions taken on managing the datacentre, such as mouse-clicks and data insertions, and later replay the scenario for training and auditing purposes.

According to IBM, some datacentre processes which earlier took weeks to complete manually can now be automated using Tivoli to be completed in less than a day.